Hockey Ad Network

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Marlboro,
MA- Colton Phinney made 48 saves and was credited with the game-winning
goal as the Islanders Hockey Club defeated the Jersey Hitmen 4-1 to
force a decisive third game of the EJHL Dineen Cup Championship Series.

The
teams came out flying and much like in the series opener, the Hitmen
seized an early territorial advantage. Phinney and the Islanders kept
them off the board, but Jack Riley set up Josh Henke on the right side
and Henke blasted a shot at Phinney. The goaltender made the save, but
Dominic Trento swooped in and buried the rebound 8:04 into the game.

Zach
Sanford tied the game with 4:02 on the clock when he picked up a loose
puck, skated in and toe-dragged it around Hitmen goaltender Chris Funkey
before knocking it in the net.

The
Islanders grabbed the lead on a bizarre play just as the Hitmen were
about to go on a power play with around two minutes remaining in the
period. Funkey skated off for the extra attacker and the Hitmen peppered
Phinney with shots, but the Islanders goaltender stood his ground.
Phinney made a save, but the puck bounced back to one of the Hitmen.
Another shot was fired at the net and hit the post, bounced off the end
boards, and slid all the way into the empty net. As Phinney was the last
Islander to touch the puck, he was credited with the goal.

Neither team scored in the second period despite plenty of chances for each team.

Phinney
and Funkey continued to frustrate the teams throughout most of the
third period. The Islanders, however, found another crack in Funkey with
2:07 to play when Michael Doherty banged home Chris Izmirlian’s
rebound. Conor MacPhee also assisted on the play.

Funkey
skated off for an extra attacker with 1:19 on the clock after a 25-save
performance, but Ian McGilvrey sealed the victory with seven seconds
remaining.

The teams will play again tomorrow at 2:20 PM at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, MA.